Lab Members

Current Lab Members

Principal Investigator

JD Sauer PhD (email)

B.S., Biology- Cornell University 2002

Ph.D., Microbiology and Immunology (Dr. Michele Swanson) - University of Michigan 2006

ACS Postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular and Cell Biology (Dr. Daniel Portnoy) - University of California, Berkeley 2011

Postdoctoral Fellows - Come Join Us!

Alyssa Brokaw (email)

B.S. Microbiology - University of Minnesota, 2015

Ph.D. Pathobiology (Dr. Lakshmi Rajagopal) - University of Washington, 2024

Project: Drawing on my experience studying pregnancy-associated infections caused by Group B Streptococcus, I aim to identify novel Listeria monocytogenes genes associated with hypervirulent clinical isolates linked to listeriosis during pregnancy. I also hope to exploit Listeria's genetic tractability to further our understanding of how bacterial infections and host inflammation pathways influence pregnancy outcomes and fetal prognosis. Outside of lab, you can find me walking my sweet dog Juniper, testing new recipes, and expanding my collection of fun earrings.

Kevin Parducho (email)

B.S. Microbiology - California State University at Los Angeles, 2016

Ph.D. Cell Biology - Yale University, 2024

Project: Using my background in eukaryotic trafficking pathways, I am investigating mechanisms within phagocytes that govern bacterially-induced production of prostaglandin E2, a critical signaling molecule for the induction of CD8+ T-cell dependent protective immunity. In addition, I am developing a CRISPRi system in L. monocytogenes while unsuccessfully resisting the urge to mention dancing Argentine tango to everyone that I meet.

Matt Freeman (email)

Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP)/Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB)

BS, Biochemistry - University of Minnesota, 2018

Ph.D. Cellular and Molecular Biology - University of Wisconsin - Madison 2025

Continuing as a Post-doctoral Researcher in the Sauer Lab for my final year while I complete my M.D.

Project: Our lab primarily studies host-pathogen interactions using the model organism Listeria monocytogenes. I approached understanding this problem through the lens of shared host-pathogen metabolism. During my work I identified the systems L. monocytogenes is primarily using to acquire carbon from the host and characterized mechanisms of defective virulence for a metabolically perturbed strain. I am experienced in bacterial genetics, genetic screens, molecular biology, metabolomics, tissue culture, animal work, and bioinformatics. In my free time I enjoy camping, backpacking, skiing, and cooking.

Graduate Students

Abby DeBrine (email)

Microbiology Doctoral Training Program (MDTP)

B.S. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - Oregon State University, 2023

Project:

Research Specialist/Lab Manager

Delanie Arend (email)

B.S., Zoology/Animal Biology - University of Wisconsin - Madison 2023

Project:

Undergraduate Students

Nolan Doherty (email)

Mentor: Alyssa Brokaw

Project:

Allia Taamallah (email)

Project:

Lab Alumni

Postdoctoral Fellows

CY Kao PhD - 2017-2019 Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology Fellow

Projects: role of DHNA in L. monocytogenes pathogenesis and function of Stk1 in S. aureus beta-lactam resistance

Currently: Associate Professor at National Yang-Ming University

Kao Lab Website

Caroline Grunenwald PhD - 2020-2022 American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellow

Projects: Role of Stk1 in cell wall stress, redox stress and nutritional stress in S. aureus

Currently: Assistant Professor at University of Missouri, Columbia MO

Grunenwald Lab Website

Jessica Kelliher PhD - 2020-2023 NIH NRSA F32 Postdoctoral Fellow, Leading Edge Fellow

Projects: Role of PrkA in cell wall stress responses, cytosolic survival and virulence in L. monocytogenes

Currently: Assistant Professor at Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee IWI

Kelliher Lab Website

Graduate Students

Matt Freeman PhD - 2019-2024 Cell and Molecular Biology Program

Thesis Title: Deciphering the Metabolic Determinants of Listeria monocytogenes Virulence in the Host

Currently: Completing MD training as part of the MSTP program and Postdoctoral Fellow in the Sauer Lab at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Chris Lee M.S. - 2024-2025 Cell and Molecular Pathology

Currently:

Kim Gutierrez PhD - 2019-2024 Microbiology Doctoral Training Program

Thesis Title: Listeria monocytogenes Adaptations to Cell Wall Stressors in the Macrophage Cytosol

Currently: Microbiologist - Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection , Madison WI

Simone Shen PhD - 2019-2024 Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Program

Thesis Title: Modeling Host-Pathogen Interactions Using Zebrafish and Listeria monocytogenes

Currently: Process Scientist at Theragent, Arcadia, CA

Zach Morrow PhD - 2017-2023 Cell and Molecular Biology Program

Thesis Title: Understanding innate immune signaling during Listeria monocytogenes vaccination and its implications for cancer immunotherapy

Currently: Scientist at Fugent LLC, Madison WI

Hans Smith PhD - 2017-2022 Cell and Molecular Biology Program

Thesis Title: Role of DHNA and NAD+/NADH redox balance in L. monocytogenes pathogenesis

Currently: Scientist I at MilliporeSigma, Rockville MD

Courtney McDougal PhD - 2015-2021 Microbiology Doctoral Training Program

Thesis Title: Role of eicosaniods on cell-mediated immunity to Listeria monocytogenes and its implications on cancer therapy

Currently: Postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Marion Pepper, University of Washington

Dan Pensinger PhD - 2014-2019 Microbiology Doctoral Training Program

Thesis Title: Maintenance of cell wall integrity in the cytosol of host cells is essential for virulence of Listeria monocytogenes

Currently: Senior Research Scientist, Promega Corp. Madison, WI

Adam Schaenzer PhD - 2013-2018 Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology

Thesis Title: Characterization of the PASTA kinases as antibiotic targets in S. aureus and L. monocytogenes

Currently: Postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Cameron Currie at McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CA

Grischa Chen PhD - 2012-2017 Microbiology Doctoral Training Program

Thesis Title: Uncovering the genetic determinants of Listeria monocytogenes survival in the host cytosol

Currently: Scientific Lab Manager at the Carnegie Institute for Science, Pasadena CA

Will Vincent PhD - 2012-2017 Microbiology Doctoral Training Program (co-mentor: Anna Huttenlocher)

Thesis Title: Innate immune cell recruitment and host defense in response to intracellular bacterial infection

Currently: Microscopy Sales Representative at Evident Scientific, Madison WI

Erin Theisen MD, PhD - 2013-2017 Cellular and Molecular Pathology

Thesis Title: Inflammasome activation impairs cell-mediated immunity to Listeria monocytogenes

Currently: Instructor in Dermatology Harvard Medical School, Boston MA

Researcher Specialists

Kijeong Lee

BS, Microbiology - University of Wisconsin - Madison 2022

Currently: PhD student in the Goldberg Lab, Harvard University

John Thorstenson

BS, Biochemistry - University of Wisconsin - Madison 2021

Currently: PhD student in the Horswill Lab, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus

Tighe Christopher

BS, Biochemistry and Microbiology - University of Wisconsin - Madison 2019

Currently: PhD student in the Tait Wojno Lab, University of Washington

Zach Powers

BS, Microbiology - University of Wisconsin - Madison 2019

Currently: PhD student in the O'Riordan Lab, University of Michigan Medical School

Drew Rust MD

BS, Biochemistry- University of Wisconsin-Madison 2019

Currently: Neurology Resident, Trinity Health

Undergraduate Students

Mara Allen - 2022-2025

Currently: PsyD student The Chicago School, Chicago IL

Noah Eral - 2023-2025 (Hilldale Fellow)

Currently: Tria Orthopedics Patient Navigator - Applying to Medical School

Danny Hill - 2020-2023 (Sophomore Research Fellowship, POSSE Scholar)

Currently: TS/MS Scientist at Eli Lilly, Indianapolis IN

McKenzie Daanen - 2019-2021 (Hilldale Fellow)

Currently: PhD student in the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program at the University of California San Francisco (Spitzer Lab)

Zach Powers - 2018-2020

Currently: PhD student in the Programs in Biomedical Sciences (PIBS) at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (O'Riordan Lab)

Rhiannon Abrahams - 2019 (REU Signals)

Currently: PhD student in the Microbiology Doctoral Training program at University of Wisconsin - Madison (Majumder Lab)

Alex Budke - 2018-2019

Currently: unknown

Matt Becraft - 2016-2018

Currently: Naturalist WisCorps

Drew Rust MD - 2015-2018 (Hilldale Fellow)

Currently: Neurology Resident, Trinity Health

Cadin Truesdale - 2017

Currently: unknown

Kim Gutierrez PhD - Summer 2017 (REU Signals)

Previously: PhD student in the Microbiology Doctoral Training program at University of Wisconsin - Madison (Sauer Lab)

Currently: Microbiologist - Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection , Madison WI

Emily Forster PhD- 2015-2017 (Hilldale Fellow)

Previously: Tufts University PhD Molecular Microbiology (2022)

Currently: Technology Specialist, Lando & Anastasi, LLP Intellectual Property Law Firm

Jon Kaletka PhD- 2015-2017

Previously: Michigan State University PhD in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (2022)

Currently: Assistant Professor - University of Wisconsin Green Bay

Melissa Arroyo - 2015

Currently: unknown

Marc D'Antonio - 2013-2016 (Hilldale Fellow)

Currently: PhD Student in Immunology CU Denver Anschutz Graduate School (Torres Lab)

Meng Xiong - 2013-2015

Currently: PhD student in Epidemiology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (MPH in Global Health and Epidemiology 2018, George Washington University)

Phanary Xiong PharmD- 2012-2014

Previously: PharmD Student, UW Madison

Currently: Clinical Pharmacist | Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin | Patient-Centered Care & Medication Management Expert

Andrea Favero - 2013 (Internship)

Currently: Group Leader at PPD GMP Labs Middleton, WI

Kyle Sherman - 2012-2013

Currently: unknown

Ben Knight MD- 2012-2013 (Hilldale Fellow)

Previously: Medical College of Wisconsin

Currently: Orthopedic Surgeon, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee WI

Kevin Hughes PhD - 2012 (Summer REU Student)

Previously: Yale University PhD Biomedical and Biological Sciences

Currently: Senior Scientist - Clinical Pharmacology at Parexel

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